Synthetic fibers, mainly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polypropylene (PP), are the most widely used polymers in the textile industry. These fibers surpass the production of natural fibers with a market share of 54.4%. The advantages of these fibers are their high modulus and strength, stiffness, stretch or elasticity, wrinkle and abrasion resistances, relatively low cost, convenient processing, tailorable performance and easy recycling. The downside to synthetic fibers use are reduced wearing comfort, build-up of electrostatic charge, the tendency to pill, difficulties in finishing, poor soil release properties and low dyeability. These disadvantages are largely associated with their hydrophobic nature. To render their surfaces hydrophilic, various physical, chemical and bulk modification methods are employed to mimic the advantageous properties of their natural counterparts. This review is focused on the application of recent methods for the modification of synthetic textiles using physical methods (corona discharge, plasma, laser, electron beam and neutron irradiations), chemical methods (ozone-gas treatment, supercritical carbon dioxide technique, vapor deposition, surface grafting, enzymatic modification, sol-gel technique, layer-by-layer deposition of nano-materials, micro-encapsulation method and treatment with different reagents) and bulk modification methods by blending polymers with different compounds in extrusion to absorb different colorants. Nowadays, the bulk and surface functionalization of synthetic fibers for various applications is considered as one of the best methods for modern textile finishing processes (Tomasino, 1992). This last stage of textile processing has employed new routes to demonstrate the great potential of nano-science and technology for this industry (Lewin, 2007). Combination of physical technologies and nano-science enhances the durability of textile materials against washing, ultraviolet radiation, friction, abrasion, tension and fading (Kirk–Othmer, 1998). European methods for application of new functional finishing materials must meet high ethical demands for environmental-friendly processing (Fourne, 1999). For this purpose the process of textile finishing is optimized by different researchers in new findings (Elices & Llorca, 2002). Application of inorganic and organic nano-particles have enhanced synthetic fibers attributes, such as softness, durability, breathability, water repellency, fire retardancy and antimicrobial properties (Franz, 2003; McIntyre, 2005; Xanthos, 2005). This review article gives an application overview of various physical and chemical methods of inorganic and organic structured material as potential modifying agents of textiles with emphasis on dyeability enhancements. The composition of synthetic fibers includes polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides (PA) or polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Synthetic fibers already hold a 54% market share in the fiber market. Of this market share, PET alone accounts for almost 50% of all fiber materials in 2008 (Gubitz & Cavaco-Paulo, 2008). Polypropylene, a major component for the nonwovens market accounts for 10% of the market share of both natural and synthetic fibers worldwide (INDA, 2008 and Aizenshtein, 2008). It is apparent that synthetic polymers have unique properties, such as high uniformity, mechanical strength and resistance to chemicals or abrasion. However, high hydrophobicity, the build-up of static charges, poor breathability, and resistant to finishing are undesirable properties of synthetic materials (Gubitz & Cavaco-Paulo, 2008). Synthetic textile fibers typically undergo a variety of pre-treatments before dyeing and printing is feasible. Compared to their cotton counterparts, fabrics made from synthetic fibers undergo mild scouring before dyeing. Nonetheless, these treatments still create undesirable process conditions wh
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Using stable isotope techniques, this study shows that plasma free fatty acid oxidation is not impaired during exercise in non-obese type II diabetic patients.
This research paper looks at a selection of science-fiction films and its connection with the progression of the use of television, telephone and print media. It also analyzes statistical data obtained from a questionnaire conducted by the research group regarding the use of communication media.
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Fontys University of Applied Science’s Institute of Engineering, and the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) are proposing to set up a professorship to develop novel sensors for fusion reactors. Sensors are a critical component to control and optimise the unstable plasma of Tokamak reactors. However, sensor systems are particularly challenging in fusion-plasma facing components, such as the divertor. The extreme conditions make it impossible to directly incorporate sensors. Furthermore, in advanced reactor concepts, such as DEMO, access to the plasma via ports will be extremely limited. Therefore, indirect or non-contact sensing modalities must be employed. The research group Distributed Sensor Systems (DSS) will develop microwave sensor systems for characterising the plasma in a tokamak’s divertor. DSS will take advantage of recent rapid developments in high frequency integrated circuits, found, for instance, in automotive radar systems, to develop digital reflectometers. Access through the divertor wall will be achieved via surface waveguide structures. The waveguide will be printed using 3D tungsten printing that has improved precision, and reduced roughness. These components will be tested for durability at DIFFER facilities. The performance of the microwave reflectometer, including waveguides, will be tested by using it to analyse the geometry and dynamics of the Magnum PSI plasma beam. The development of sensor-based systems is an important aspect in the integrated research and education program in Electrical Engineering, where DSS is based. The sensing requirements from DIFFER offers an interesting and highly relevant research theme to DSS and exciting projects for engineering students. Hence, this collaboration will strengthen both institutes and the educational offerings at the institute of engineering. Furthermore millimeter wave (mmWave) sensors have a wide range of potential applications, from plasma characterisation (as in this proposal) though to waste separation. Our research will be a step towards realising these broader application areas.
Recente ontwikkelingen op het gebied van microfluïdica en microreactoren maken het mogelijk verschillende laboratoriumtesten te miniaturiseren.Deze zogenaamde “lab-on-a-chip” technologieën maken diagnostische testen buiten het laboratorium (point of care testing) mogelijk.Voor medische testen hoeven artsen geen monsters meer op te sturen naar een gespecialiseerd laboratorium en te wachten op de uitslag, de gegevens kunnen meteen gelezen worden en eventuele therapie direct gestart of daarop aangepast worden. Desondanks loopt de toepassing van de “lab-on-a-chip” technologie in de praktijk achter bij de verwachtingen. De omzetting van idee tot device vergt vaak grote investeringen. Voor het aantonen van de toepasbaarheid van een idee zijn veelal al dure investeringen in productiemiddelen en geconditioneerde ruimten noodzakelijk, terwijl het benodigde geld voor de investeringen alleen verkregen kan worden als kan worden aangetoond dat het idee werkt (“valley of death”). Printtechnologieën kunnen op dat punt een uitkomst bieden. Inkjetprinten, plasmaprinten en 3D-printen zijn relatief eenvoudige, goedkope en flexibele technieken die bijna overal kunnen worden toegepast en ze zijn ook nog eens geschikt voor biologische materialen. In dit project willen we met een combinatie van verschillende printtechnieken (inkjet-, plasma- en 3D printen) een platform genereren waarmee MKBers middels prototypes de haalbaarheid van hun idee met betrekking tot een bio(medische) sensor kunnen aantonen. Door gebruik te maken van een innovatieve detectiemethode, recent ontwikkeld aan de Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, willen we een volledig geprinte sensor produceren die met een smartphone uit te lezen is. We zullen twee praktijkgerichte toepassingen als demonstrator uitwerken. Als eerste een sensor die een ernstige longontsteking van een onschuldige verkoudheid kan onderscheiden, door detectie van het ontstekingseiwit ‘C-reactief eiwit (CRP)’. Als tweede een sensor die snel en eenvoudig de spiegels van een nieuwe oncologische biomarker kan meten en gebruikt kan worden bij de diagnostiek van bepaalde soorten tumoren en het meten van de therapeutische respons.
